A man of many trades. The 82nd Grand Master, Franklin J. Demonteverde, was born in Iloilo City on April 3, 1944 to Ruperto Sarrosa Demonteverde, Sr., the Grand Master in 1973, and Nora Tioko Jaroda. He is the second son of a Grand Master to himself become a Grand Master, the first being Teodoro V. Kalaw, Jr., the Grand Master in 1975 and son of Teodoro M. Kalaw, Sr., the Grand Master in 1928. Franklin took his elementary schooling at the Ateneo de Davao and his secondary education at the Notre Dame de Cotabato, where he graduated as 1st honorable mention. During his grade school days he was an acolyte or “Knight of the Altar” and excelled in Religion. In his high school days, he joined other catechists in giving religious instructions to pupils of elementary schools in Cotabato. Franklin took his college education at the University of the East in Manila, graduating therefrom with the degree of Bachelor in Business Administration-Management in 1967. Ten years later, he obtained an LLB degree from the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos. Franklin was barely 26 years of age when he was initiated, passed and raised in Kanlaon Lodge No. 64 on May 14, June 5, and July 24, 1970, respectively. In November of the same year, he joined the Scottish Rite in Iloilo City and in 1971 the York Rite. Like his father before him, Franklin is an effective Masonic organizer. In 1973, he founded Negrense Lodge No. 200 and served as its Charter Worshipful Master. In 1976, after serving a second term as Master of Negrense Lodge, he organized Lantawan Lodge No. 210 (now M.V. Ko Memorial Lodge). It was during this time that he served as Secretary of Negrense Lodge (He would serve this Lodge as Secretary in 1976-79, 1981-84, and again in 1985.) Franklin is also credited with the organization of the Negrense 200 Foundation, Inc., in Bacolod City. In due time Franklin’s capabilities were recognized by the Grand Lodge. In 1981, he was appointed Grand Bible Bearer and also Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of Oklahoma near our Grand Lodge. In 1987 he was appointed DDGM and during his term he founded Ernesto S. Salas Memorial Lodge No. 280; assisted in the organization of Dalusan Lodge No. 281; organized the Venus Assembly No. 11, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls (IORG); revived the York Rite Bodies in Bacolod City; and was mainly responsible for the organization of the Marapara Chapter, International Order of the Eastern Star (IOES).. In the following years Franklin served the fraternity in various other positions. Thus, in 1988 he chaired the Committee on Grand Lodge Officers Reports and served as DDGM; he was also High Priest of the Bacolod Chapter No. 4, Royal Arch Masons (RAM) and was RAM’s Grand Representative to New York and the Knights Templar Commandery’s Grand Representative to Ireland. In the Ancom held in Bacolod City on April 27-29, 1991, he chaired the Secretariat Committee, the Grand Lodge Election Committee, the Credentials Committee, and several other committees. The success of the Ancom enhanced the image of Bacolod City as a convention center in the Philippines. Incidentally, it was also in 1991 that the Grand Guild of Past Masters of the Philippines named him the Most Outstanding District Deputy Guild Master. In 1993-94, he was the Junior Grand Lecturer for Western Visayas, and moreover he inspired the organization of Ruperto S. Demonteverde Memorial Lodge No. 320 in Kabankalan, Negros Occidental. In 1996, Franklin was elected Junior Grand Warden. In his acceptance speech, he said in part, “The trek along the tortuous route to the Grand East has been wearisome…. I accept my election with much relief and great joy.” Three years later he was elected Grand Master. Aside from all these, Franklin is an Honorary Legion of Honor awardee of the Supreme Council, Order of DeMolay, a 33°, IGH, in the Scottish Rite, a Shriner, an honorary member of five Lodges and a member of the Advisory Council of the Supreme Council of the Order of DeMolay. He is furthermore a recognized ritualist and is much sought after as an Installing Officer. In professional and civic organizafions, Franklin’s involvements include membership in the Y’s Men’s Club, the Police Advisory Council, Lion’s, Rotary, YMCA Y’ s Men International, Negrense 200 Foundation, Inc., and the Kiwanis. Franklin is the recipient of certificates and plaques of appreciation from various civic organizations such as the YMCA of the Philippines, the Lions International, the YMCA of Negros Occidental, Inc. and the Y’s Men International, Philippine Region. These organizations often tap his talents. Thus, when his Y’s Men’s Club hosted the regional convention of Y’s Men International in Bacolod City he was asked to serve as chairman Franklin started in the insurance field, beginning as an agent for National Life Insurance (NLI) and Eastern Assurance & Surety Corporation (EASCO). In EASCO he received the Efficiency Award and the Most Improved Branch Award. He later tranferred to Inhelder Corporation, and Warner, Barnes & Co. and then in 1980 – 1985 became a legal retainer for BM-AMCI in Bacolod City. In 1986, he was appointed as PCGG fiscal agent for E. Cojuangco Jr. & Sons Inc. From May 1988 to February 1990, Franklin was an attorney on retained basis for the Development Bank of the Philippines (DPB). From March 1990 he has served as Attorney V in the DBP branch in Bacolod City. From August 27, 1992, he has been Resident Ombudsman for the same branch. Upon his return to Bacolod city after his stint as Grand Master, he was promoted as Area Legal Officer covering the entire island of Negros Occidental and Oriental. With such varied experiences it is no wonder that the Masons were confident when he was elected Grand Master that the Grand Lodge would be in the hands of a highly qualified and skillful Craftsman, who, like his father, wants Truth to cast its Light upon a stony way. Franklin did not fail his Brothers. Franklin is happily married to Maria Loma Gaddi Piccio-Demonteverde, Presiding Judge of Branch 2, Municipal Trial Court in Cities, Bacolod City, with whom he has six children: Joseph Dale, Franklin, Jr., Omar Francis, Glenn, Rowena, and Rhett, 18. Franklin and Lorna have two grandchildren, Paolo and Cheska, children of Franklin “Jong Jr.” and Kay.